New Management Methods Bulletin Explores BIM Related Cost and Time Impacts

Mechanical, electrical, plumbing and sheet metal (MEP/SM) contractors are normally at the forefront of Building Information Modeling (BIM) activities on a construction project. Substantial BIM cost and time overruns have occurred on many projects due to the fluid boundaries between coordination and design. MCAA’s new Identifying, Quantifying and Preventing BIM Related Cost and Time Impacts Management Methods Bulletin explores the factors that contribute to these overruns, allowing contractors to better plan for them. It’s just one of MCAA’s educational resources that are free to MCAA members as a benefit of membership.

The bulletin explores the types of contracts that are employed in the construction industry that can directly affect BIM estimates and BIM execution and how these forms of contracts can affect BIM management, time and costs. Key terms used in the BIM environment are explained in terms of contract scope, cost and time management such as the all-important term “normal and expected coordination”.

Recognizing the Level of Development (LOD) to be provided to the contractor in the BIM process is a key element in estimating BIM costs and schedule times. Additionally, defining and scheduling the BIM process can be a key element in successful BIM execution. All of these key elements are discussed in detail in this Management Methods Bulletin.

The bulletin includes:

• A brief introduction to BIM
• Discussion about the various forms of construction contracts
• How design-bid-build forms of contract can affect the BIM process
• Differentiating between BIM “coordination” and design
• How the BIM Execution Plan (BEP) can affect BIM implementation – time and costs
• Determining the LOD to be provided by the design professionals to the contractor
• The importance of the LOD
• Discussion of design-assist forms of construction contracts
• The importance of including detailed BIM activities in the prime contractors’ CPM schedule
• Tracking BIM scope change work using time records and schedule impact estimates
• Defining “normal and expected coordination” by the MEP/SM subcontractor
• Ten priorities to consider before entering into contracts requiring BIM coordination

A polling process is being undertaken to address more specific estimating suggestions. Those suggestions will be incorporated into the bulletin content and released as a new chapter in an upcoming edition of MCAA’s Change Orders, Productivity, Overtime—A Primer for the Construction Industry. Watch for an announcement on mcaa.org and in the National Update when that becomes available.

For a full list of available Management Methods Bulletins, visit the Management Methods Bulletins page.

Find all of MCAA’s educational resources in the Resource Center.

Have Questions or Need Personal Assistance?

Contact MCAA’s Frank Wall.